Distinguished Faculty Address Award

Recognizing a faculty member’s exemplary achievement

The annual Distinguished Faculty Address honors a faculty member who has risen to the front ranks of his or her discipline through achievements in research, scholarship, and teaching.

Yong Wang

Regents Professor, Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering

Yong Wang is an internationally recognized scientist and a visionary leader in clean energy technologies, driving advancements in sustainable technologies to address pressing global energy, resource, and environmental challenges.  His pioneering work has earned him numerous national and international awards. Wang’s research impact is reflected in his 450 peer-reviewed publications, with an H-index of 103 and 47,475 citations (as of March 3, 2025). He is listed as a Highly Cited Researcher by Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics).  His contributions extend beyond academia, holding 285 issued patents, with over 90% licensed to industry, directly influencing real-world applications.  In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the field, he is elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2025.

Beyond research, Dr. Wang is a respected leader, mentor, and educator, holding key roles in academic societies and editorial boards as an editor-in-chief, chair, and director. He also co-teaches Advanced Heterogeneous Catalysis, an advanced course for graduate students. In 2009, he established a dynamic research group of PhD students and visiting scholars, which has since published 340 papers including Science (3) and Nature (2) under his mentorship. His group receives consistent funding from both governmental and industry partners, further enhancing WSU’s reputation in catalysis and clean energy research.